HDDScan – free HDD diagnostic utility

/ Ver. 3.3 /

HDDScan is a freeware utility for hard drive diagnostics (RAID arrays, Flash USB and SSD drives are also supported). The program can test storage device for errors (Bad-blocks and bad sectors), show S.M.A.R.T. attributes and change some HDD parameters such as AAM, APM, etc.

HDDScan can be useful for performing the regular "health test" for your drive and predicting its degradation, so you will be able to prevent data loss and backup your files before you will have to contact the data recovery service.

Additionally, software can be used as the hard disk temperature monitor and reading/writing benchmark – performance graph is displayed for every test.

Can be started only one test at a time. Author wasn’t able to get stable test results with two or more simultaneous tests.

Verify test may have restriction on Block Size with 256, 16384 or 65536 sectors because of Windows limitations.

Verify test may work in improper way on USB/Flash devices.

In Verify mode device reads block of data into internal buffer only and checks for consistency, there is no data transferring through interface connector. The program measures operation time for each block. The program tests blocks one by one from minimum to maximum.

In Read mode device reads block of data and transfers it thorough interface. The program reads block of data into temporary buffer and measures time of operation for each block. The program tests blocks one by one from minimum to maximum.

In Erase mode the program prepares block of data field with special pattern and number of logical sector. The program sends the block of data to drive and drive writes the block (All data in the block on drive will be overwritten and gone forever!) The program measures operation time for each block. The program tests blocks one by one from minimum to maximum.

Butterfly Read mode is similar to Read mode difference only in blocks’ order. Blocks are tested by pairs. The first block in the first pair will be Block 0, the second block in the first pair will be Block N (where N is number of last block for testing). Next pair will be Block 1 and Block N-1. Test ends in the middle of testing area. The program measures operation time.

Test Manager window

Pic.3 Test Manager window

This window contains test queue. All test, S.M.A.R.T. test and Temperature Monitor tests go right to the Test Manager. Manager allows deleting tests from queue; some test could be paused or stopped.

Double click on a task to open task information window.

Pic.4 Task information window example

Test information window

This window contains information about test. Test could be paused or stopped and report with results can be generated.

Graph Tab:

Shows testing speed for each block. Information is showing as a graph.

Pic.5 Graph tab

Map Tab:

Shows testing time for each block. Information is showing as a map.

Pic.6 Map tab

Report Tab:

Contains information about test and each block with testing time more than 50 ms.

Pic.7 Report tab

Identity information

Report contains information about physical and logical parameters of HDD. Report can be saved as MHT file.

Temperature monitor

Monitor allows evaluating HDD's temperature. Temperature is indicated on the Task bar and in an information window. Pic.12 shows temperature for two drives.

Pic.12 Temperature monitors on the Task bar

For ATA/SATA/USB/FireWire drives the information widow shows two values. The second value is shown on the Task bar.

The first value indicates temperature from Airflow Temperature attribute; the second value indicates temperature from HDA Temperature attribute.

Pic.13 Temperature monitor for ATA/SATA HDD

For SCSI drives the information window shows two values. The second value is shown on the Task bar.

The first value indicates maximum allowed temperature for HDD; the second value indicates current temperature.

Pic.14 Temperature monitor for SCSI HDD

S.M.A.R.T. tests

The program allows running three kinds of tests:

Short test – lasts about 1-2 minutes. The test inspects drive’s main schemas, scans small part of drive’s surface and checks sectors from the Pending-list (such sectors may have read errors). This test recommended for quick drive testing.

PM – this function allows setting spin-down timer. If drive is in idle spindle will be stopped after the time set in the timer. If any program requests HDD access timer will be reset and spindle will spin up.

Disable Seagate PM – theoretically should turn off some Seagate drives spin-down timer but I was unable to find drives where this command would work.

The program can also start or stop spindle immediately. If any program requests HDD access drive’s spindle will spin up.

Pic.16 Features window for ATA/SATA HDD

The program can show defect-lists and start or stop spindle for SCSI drives.

Pic.17 Features window for SCSI HDD

Skin usage

Program uses AlphaSkins component which allows user selecting new skins for application.

You can download skins from here - http://www.alphaskins.com/asdwnld.php

You can find a manual how to create your own skin on that site too.

Create Skins subdirectory in the directory where HDDScan.exe file is located. Download and copy skins to that subdirectory. Open Skin Selection dialog. Press Select Skin button and choose desired skin. Program will create main.ini file that file will store information about current skin. If you delete main.ini file program will use default internal skin - WLM. Skinned mode checkbox can disable or enable skin usage (enabled by default)

Pic.18 Skin Selection dialog

The program can build a command line to control certain parameters of the drive and to keep this line in the bat or cmd file. When you run such a program file is called in the background, changing the parameters of the drive in accordance with specified and closes automatically.

Pic.19 build a command line window

Appendix A: USB and FireWire HDDs

If USB/FireWire HDD is supported by the program, tests, S.M.A.R.T. capabilities and additional features may be executed on the drive.

If USB/FireWire HDD is no supported by the program, only tests can be executed.

USB/FireWire HDDs supported by the program:

Storage device

Controller chip

StarTeck IDECase35U2

Cypress CY7C68001

WD Passpopt

Unknown

Iomega PB-10391

Unknown

Seagate ST9000U2 (PN: 9W3638-556)

Cypress CY7C68300B

Seagate External Drive (PN: 9W286D)

Cypress CY7C68300B

Seagate FreeAgentPro

Oxford

CASE SWEXX ST010

Cypress AT2LP RC7

Vantec CB-ISATAU2 (adapter)

JMicron JM20337

Beyond Micro Mobile Disk 3.5" 120GB

Prolific PL3507 (supported only USB)

Maxtor Personal Storage 3100

Prolific PL2507

Maxtor Personal Storage (USB2120NEP001)

In-System ISD300A

SunPlus SPIF215A

Toshiba USB Mini Hard Drive

Unknown

USB Teac HD-15 PUK-B-S

Unknown

Transcend StoreJet 35 Ultra (TS1TSJ35U-EU)

Unknown

AGEStar FUBCP

JMicron JM20337

USB Teac HD-15 PUK-B-S

Unknown

Prolific 2571

USB/FireWire HDDs which are probably supported by the program:

Storage device

Controller chip

AGEStar IUB3A

Cypress

AGEStar ICB3RA

Cypress

AGEStar IUB3A4

Cypress

AGEStar IUB5A

Cypress

AGEStar IUB5P

Cypress

AGEStar IUB5S

Cypress

AGEStar NUB3AR

Cypress

AGEStar IBP2A2

Cypress

AGEStar SCB3AH

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar SCB3AHR

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar CCB3A

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar CCB3AT

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar IUB2A3

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar SCBP

JMicron JM2033x

AGEStar FUBCP

JMicron JM2033x

Noontec SU25

Prolific PL2507

Transcend TS80GHDC2

Prolific PL2507

Transcend TS40GHDC2

Prolific PL2507

I-O Data HDP-U series

Unknown

I-O Data HDC-U series

Unknown

Enermax Vanguard EB206U-B

Unknown

Thermaltake Max4 A2295

Unknown

Spire GigaPod SP222

Unknown

Cooler Master - RX-3SB

Unknown

MegaDrive200

Unknown

RaidSonic Icy Box IB-250U

Unknown

Logitech USB

Unknown

USB/FireWire HDDs not supported by the program:

Storage device

Controller chip

Matrix

Genesis Logic GL811E

Pine

Genesis Logic GL811E

Iomega LDHD250-U

Cypress CY7C68300A

Iomega DHD160-U

Prolific PL-2507 (modified firmware)

Iomega

Prolific PL-3507 (modified firmware)

Maxtor Personal Storage 3200

Prolific PL-3507 (modified firmware)

Maxtor One-Touch

Cypress CY7C68013

Seagate External Drive (PN-9W2063)

Cypress CY7C68013

Seagate Pocket HDD

Unknown

SympleTech SympleDrive 9000-40479-002

CY7C68300A

Myson Century CS8818

Myson Century CS8813

Appendix B: supported SSD drives

Support of any particular solid state drive depends mostly on its SSD controller.